Calcium-montmorillonite cation-exchange processes

The most important industrial example of cation exchange is the preparation of sodium-montmorillonite/bentonite from calcium bentonite. As seen in Table 2.2, calcium ions have greater affinity to the layer charge than sodium ions, so the calcium-sodium cation exchange must be performed in the presence of carbonate ions. It means that calcium-montmorillonite/bentonite is suspended in sodium carbonate solution. Calcium ions precipitate with carbonate ions, so sodium ions can occupy the interlayer space. This process is known as soda activation of bentonite. The disadvantage of soda activation is that sodium-montmorillonite is contaminated with calcium carbonate. 

The other interfacial process involving hydrogen ion is the cation-exchange process in the interlayer space. When montmorillonite is suspended in water or in an electrolyte solution, a part of exchangeable cations can be dissolved. In Table 2.7, the relative quantity of calcium ions dissolved in water or in acidic solutions is shown. 

The effect of a complex-forming agent on the cation-exchange processes of montmorillonite is well demonstrated in calcium-montmorillonite, manganese(II) ion, and the sodium salt of the ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) system (K6nya and Nagy 1998 Konya et al. 1998). The reactions are illustrated in Figure 2.9. 

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